Monday, January 11, 2010

Cookbook Week: Eggplant Chana Masala

The Chef: Lyndsay

The Menu: Hearty, spicy Eggplant Chana Masala courtesy of The Kind Diet by our very own January+February cover girl Alicia Silverstone! This take on a classic Indian vegetable dish calls for eggplant, onion, garlic, chickpeas, tomatoes, and a can of vegetarian chili—Lyndsay chose Pinto Beans and Spelt Chili by Eden Organic. Lyndsay seasoned the chana masala with cumin, curry powder, and fresh cilantro, and served the stewy mixture over piping-hot white basmati rice. Paired with a lovely green salad, this filling meal was the perfect perk-up for our particularly overcast Monday afternoon.

The Goods: Today kicks off our cookbook week for The Kind Diet, which is good news for VN staffers and readers alike. For the staff, it means having a recipe to follow instead of our usual flying-blind approach to lunchtime meal-making. For our readers, it means the chance to win a copy of Alicia's kind cookbook! To win today's copy, simply tell us in the comments: What is your favorite veg Indian dish?

I really have never been able to try true indian cuisine.. I wish I could have the chance/guidance to do so and cook an amazing meal! I know I love the ingredients that they use.. but I always get nervous trying to cook a dish like that myself.

I love Indian cuisine, and was really having a hard time trying to narrow it down to one favorite dish... until I remembered how much my gentleman friend and I liked being able to pick up some onion bhaji at the Indian restaurant that was close to our previous house. Since then, we moved to a different city where there is no Indian restaurant at all (I know!) and I dearly miss those yummy onion bhaji.

Dal, Dal, and more Dal!Dal is one of the most satisfying savory foods on the planet. Who would have thought that a little bowl could bring such great comfort to one's soul. It's so easy to make, plus, everyone usually has all the ingredients on hand...what could be better?!

Even though they're fatty, I love samosas. I also love mixed vegetable Utthappam with coconut chutney & sambar, any kind of vegan Dosai, Bindhi Masala, Balngan bhartha, yellow daal, garlic naan & some mango juice. I guess I really like indian food. NYC has some of the best!